Homeowners in northern, southern and coastal United States soon will no longer have to buy two or three types of grass seed to achieve a great-looking lawn. Pennington Seed Inc., the world's largest packager of grass seed and a subsidiary of Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT), is expanding its family of EnviroBlend(r) seed mixtures to include premium bermudagrass and bluegrass varieties. EnviroBlue(r) and EnviroBermuda(r), the latest in Pennington's line of specialty turfseed blends, will hit the market in spring 2000.

EnviroBlend(r), a turf-type tall fescue blend, and EnviroShade(r), its shade-tolerant counterpart, have been applauded as easy-to-use alternatives to traditional varieties. Based on the commercial success of these blends over the past few years, Pennington decided to target other regions of the country with EnviroBlue and EnviroBermuda, which were developed through turfgrass breeding programs at Rutgers University and Pennington's warm season research center in Maricopa, Arizona.

"Pennington has been very impressed with the overall retail success and consumer popularity of the EnviroBlend and EnviroShade brands," comments Ronnie Stapp, executive vice president for Pennington's seed division. "We know that expanding this concept of a grass seed blend to the North with EnviroBlue and to southern coastal areas with EnviroBermuda will generate additional sales for retailers who can advertise and promote this consumer-friendly family of products nationwide."

Grass seed blends produce lower and slower growing grass plants - requiring less mowing and generating fewer clippings. Lawns also need less watering and irrigation after establishment. Blends give homeowners the ingredients for a lush, beautiful lawn - all in one package.

"We found that consumers get better results from a blend due to the diversity of seed genetics inside the bag," notes Stapp. "A seed that performs well in one area may not do well in another. A blend combines the strengths of several different grass seed varieties to produce a superior home lawn."

EnviroBlue should be planted at a rate of 4-5 lbs. per 1,000 square feet between February and May, or September - November. EnviroBermuda should be established in the spring and summer (before August 15) at a rate of 2-3 lbs. per 1,000 square feet. Both blends will be available in 5 lb. and 15 lb. bags.

The entire EnviroBlend family of products is coated with Pennington's exclusive Penkoted(r) seed treatment, a liquid formula of active ingredients that stimulate root growth. The time-released coating helps protect each seedling from disease and insects and makes the seed less attractive to birds. Penkoted lawns establish faster and produce stronger stands, increased plant survival rates and improved drought tolerance due to deeper root growth.

Founded in 1945 by Brooks Pennington Sr., Pennington Seed is today owned by Central Garden & Pet Company. A leading manufacturer and distributor of lawn, garden, turf care, forage grasses, wild game and bird seed products, Pennington is also the largest packager of grass seed in the world. Central Garden & Pet reported 1998 revenues of more than $1.29 billion, with more than 3,900 employees and thousands of dealers nationwide.

Company news release
N2057